California Resources (CRC) vs Murphy Oil (MUR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Murphy Oil (MUR) has outperformed California Resources (CRC) over the past year, gaining 23.8% versus a loss of 2.9%. Over five years, MUR leads with a +30.6% price change compared with +22.5% for CRC. Murphy Oil is the larger company by market cap ($5.34 billion vs $4.62 billion), about 1.2 times the size, while California Resources is growing revenue faster (+14.7% vs -10.2%).
On valuation, Murphy Oil trades at a lower forward P/E (11.7x vs 12.6x for California Resources). Murphy Oil offers the higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 3.08%). California Resources converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.9% versus 3.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CRC | MUR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $52.06 | $37.25 |
| Market cap | $4.62B | $5.34B |
| 1-day change | -0.78% | -1.43% |
| YTD return | +16.44% | +19.20% |
| 1-year return | -2.89% | +23.80% |
| 5-year return | +22.52% | +30.61% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 18.44 |
| Forward P/E | 12.57 | 11.71 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.28 | $2.02 |
| Dividend yield | 3.08% | 3.62% |
| Annual dividend | $1.60 | $1.35 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.67B | $2.72B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +14.73% | -10.22% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $363.00M | $104.23M |
| Gross margin | — | 100.00% |
| Operating margin | 16.30% | 11.08% |
| Net margin | 9.89% | 3.83% |
| 52-week high | $71.98 | $43.34 |
| 52-week low | $43.25 | $26.49 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.67% | -14.05% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +46.62% | +7.95% |
| Average volume | 833.89K | 1.66M |
| Shares outstanding | 88.82M | 143.35M |
| Employees | 2,500 | 813 |
| Sector | Energy | Energy |
| Industry | Oil & Gas Production | Oil & Gas Production |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- MUR has outperformed CRC by 26.7 percentage points over the past year.
- California Resources is more profitable, keeping 9.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 3.8 cents for Murphy Oil.
- California Resources grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+14.73% vs -10.22%).
About California Resources
CRC stock →California Resources Corporation operates as an independent energy and carbon management company in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Oil and Natural Gas, and Carbon Management.
Energy · Oil & Gas Production · 2,500 employees
About Murphy Oil
MUR stock →Murphy Oil Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.
Energy · Oil & Gas Production · 813 employees
CRC vs MUR FAQ
Which is bigger, California Resources or Murphy Oil?
Murphy Oil (MUR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.34B compared with $4.62B for California Resources (CRC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CRC or MUR?
MUR returned +23.80% over the past 12 months, compared with -2.89% for CRC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, California Resources or Murphy Oil?
Murphy Oil has the higher yield at 3.62%, compared with 3.08% for California Resources.
Are California Resources and Murphy Oil in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Oil & Gas Production industry within the Energy sector.